In Frank as in Rothkamm, the fifth letter is K. And
K5 is the name of a Kawai synthesizer from 1987. Rothkamm produced this album
solely on the K5 synthesizer. It consists in five works written in 2004, plus
four ultra-short interludes, for a total of 33 minutes. The 2004 pieces are
very close in sound and style to the material found in the FB
trilogy (2005-2007), i.e. microtal electronic music made of glissandi and
destabilizing harmonic structures. This music evokes the pioneers of abstract
electronic music, from Brün to Xenakis.

A series of duets between guitarists Candlesnuffer
(the Australian Dave Brown) and Lukas Simonin, recorded in the studio in
2007-2008 and released in 2010. Extreme approaches of the electric guitar, with
preparations and real-time digital manipulations. A demanding listen where
nothing is obvious, but there’s a hefty dose of humour and unbridled
creativity.

The Swiss label Unit Records, through its
unstoppable flow of European jazz releases, occasionally lays a golden egg like
this one. Polaris is the work of singer Pegelia Gold, here
pairing up with performers Art Zentral. This song cycle is unique: eight
(occasionally) expansive pieces – plus one bonus track – taking us through
soundworlds that elicit a myriad imperfect comparisons: Loreena McKennit for
the moods early on; Lisa Gerrard for the voice (and the four-voice choir
passages); News from Babel for the arrangements (especially in the title
track); etc. Gold has struck a perfect balance between cohesion of the whole
and specific character for each piece. The arrangements are full of surprises
and finds. I am in shock. I am overwhelmed.[Below: “Polaris.”]

Debut album from Thurston Moore’s new rock band.
Will Chelsea Light Moving replace Sonic Youth? Most problably not, but this is
a strong opus where Moore comes back to rock’n’roll – alt rock, noise rock, but
rock’n’roll just the same. And there are a few glorious guitaristic freak outs
(“Alighted” is especially notable). I’ve never been a fan of Sonic Youth, and
this is not really my kind of rock music, but I look forward to hearing and
watching this band in action at FIMAV 2013.